Jan 14
15
Top 10 Fashion Merchandising Schools in the US
If you have the style and the eye for fashion but not really looking into designing, then consider Fashion Merchandising. Typically employed by specialty and department stores, Fashion Merchandisers pretty much make decisions as to what the store is going to sell; they decide on what products to buy from companies, what to put out and how to present it. They’re responsible for designing displays and putting together a “look” to entice customers into buying.
Sounds like a good career for you? Here are the top fashion merchandising schools in the country today.
1. Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NY
Program: Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising Management
FIT holds the distinction of having the largest and the oldest Fashion Merchandising Management program in The US. The school offers study abroad programs for students, allowing them to spend a year of their program in Italy studying at The Polimoda International Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing. Financial aid in FIT include loans, grants, part-time employment and scholarships.
2. Kent State University Kent, OH
Program: Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising
Kent offers Fashion Merchandising majors the chance to complete their BS Fashion Merchandising with a Master’s of Business Administration program all within five to five and a half years. This conditional admission is convenient for students who also plan on taking their MBA eventually. Kent offers financial aid in the form of grants, loans and work-study.
3. Texas State University San Marcos, Texas
Program: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Science, Fashion Merchandising
Students who major in Fashion Merchandising will also get a minor in Business Administration to prepare them better for their future career. All Fashion Merchandising majors are required to maintain a GPA of 2.25 to continue enrollment in FM courses. Financial aid is available through parent loans, grants, scholarships, student and nonresident tuition, work-study and fee waivers.
4. California State University Long Beach, CA
Program: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Science, Fashion Merchandising and Design
This top fashion merchandising school offers exciting opportunities for students to learn: there are tours of New York City every January, Europe and LA on summers, with seminars relating to textile, designs and apparel. There’s also an annual spring fashion show, organized by merchandising students featuring over 100 designs by designing students. Financial aid includes loan, work-study, grants and scholarships.
5. Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (LIM) New York, NY
Program: Bachelor of Business Administration in Fashion Merchandising
LIM, one of the top fashion merchandising schools in the country, offers a Fashion Merchandising program that is balanced between a liberal arts core with business, fashion and industry courses. You’ll also get the chance to intern and learn from top designers, retailers and brands. Financial aid includes need-based and non-need-based scholarships/grants and loans.
6. Philadelphia University Philadelphia, PA
Program: Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Management
PU’s Fashion Merchandising program focuses on the whole fashion value chain: textile and material development, production, sourcing, merchandising, branding and marketing. As one of the top fashion merchandising schools, students have access to internship opportunities for top brands such as Coach, Tommy Hilfiger and Macy’s. Grants, campus employment, loans and scholarships are available as financial aid.
7. International Academy of Design and Technology Chicago, IL
Program: Bachelor of Arts in Merchandising Management, Fashion Merchandising
IADT’s Fashion Merchandising program centers on business marketing, management and fashion industry trends. If you want a program that is more focused on the business side of Fashion Merchandising, then this school is your best bet. IADT offers financial aid in the form of scholarships, loans, tuition reimbursements, grants and work-study programs.
8. Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX
Program: Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising
With emphasis on hands-on experience, TCU offers students the opportunity to study retail, wholesale and manufacturing programs in relation to Fashion Merchandising. The school has an extensive TCU Costume Collection with over 2,500 items catalogued as a learning resource for Fashion Merchandising majors. TCU offers financial aid in the form of merit-based and need-based scholarships, federal and state loans and grants.
9. The University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI
Program: Bachelor of Science in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design
Courses in textiles, marketing, consumer studies, management and art make up the curriculum of The URI’s Fashion Merchandising program. Students are also given the opportunity to travel, attend seminars and stage one fashion show each year for a better learning experience. Financial aid is available in loans, grants, work-study and scholarships.
10. Marymount University Arlington, VA
Program: Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising
Marymount University’s Fashion Merchandising program focuses on visual merchandising, product development, buying, public relations, fashion events and international trade. Students are also given the opportunity to organize events like fashion shows and present designs to fashion industry icons like Michael Kors and Carolina Herrera. Financial aid includes grants, campus employment, loans and scholarships.
Any these top fashion merchandising schools will jumpstart your career and give you the best quality of education in the field. Choose the school with the program and training that you think you’ll enjoy the most. After all, fashion is supposed to be fun.